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(No Model.)

G. A. 'LOWRY & M. CRAWFORD. APPARATUS FOR GATGHING AND SUSPENDING HUGS.I

No. 252,112. Patented Jan. 10,1882.

WITNESSES. v JWViJVTORS.

,I 7 L nd;

' UNrTsn STATES PATENT Orator o.

GEORGE A. LOWRY AND MOSES CRAWFORD, OFAINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

APPARATUS FOR CATCHING AND SUSPENDING HOGSn SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 252,112, dated January 10, 1882,

Application filed September 12, 1881.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that we, GEORGE A. LOWRY andMoses Onnwronn, of the. city of lndianapolis, county of Marion, andState of Indi- 'ana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for (Jatchin g and Snspending Hogs, of which the followingis a specification.

Our said invention consists principally of the combination, with a chutefor hogs, of a rod or bar to which they may be suspended, a means ofattaching the hogs to saidbar, and a section of floor adapted to belowered so as to throw the weight of the hogs thereon onto the bar, andto be raised for the reception of other hogs.

It further consists of the combination, with this or a suitablearrangement, of a pen containin g a decoy-hog.

It further consists of a peculiar means of securing the hogs leg to thechain by which he is suspended, all as willhereinaftcr be moreparticularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figurel is a longitudinal vertical section of the chute, &c., the movablefloor-section being in its ordinary position, level with the otherportions of the floor, with several hogs standing-thereon; Fig. 2, asimilar view when the floor is in lowered position, the hogs bein ginthe variouspositions into which they would naturally fall during thelowering operation and Fig. 3, a detail view of the suspending-chain andthe spring-clamp by which the hook is held in place when the chain ishooked around the leg of the hog.

In said drawings, theportions marked A represent the pen for thedecoy-hog B, the sides of the chute; O, the stationary portion of thefloor thereof; D, the movable portion of the floor; E, acounterbalancing-weight for said movable floor-section F, a ropecarrying said weight; G H, pulleys over which said weight runs; 1, abrake-wheel on the same shalt as the pulley H J a brake-lever, and J abrakeshoe therefor; K, the rod or bar on which the animals are suspendedL, the chain by which the hogs are secured to said bar; M, the decoyhog, and M M &c., the hogs which are catch mechanism to hold it inplace.

being handled by the use of our invention.

(N0 model.)

The operation of our said invention is as follows: A. hog, M, is firstput into the pen A, (which is simply a portion of the chute divided fromthe main portion thereof by a gate, a,) and food may be placed beforehim. It is a peculiarity of hogs thatthey are only to be driven withexceeding difficulty over any new and untried path; but when one haswith apparent safety reached a point beyond it, especially if he appearsto have found food thereby, others can be made to follow with much lesstrouble. The hog M therefore acts as a decoy for the others, and muchtime and labor are thus saved. The hogs M M 850., are then driven alongthe chute upon the trap or falling floor-section.

the trap is drawn backto a horizontal position;

and the brake is again set tightly against the wheel I. Another lot ofhogs is then driven onto the trap and the operation is repeated.

The chute should only be made wide enough for one hog to pass along itat a time, as otherwise the hogs might become too crowded on the trap tobe conveniently attached to the bar K.

The chain L is in itself simply a chain having a hook upon each end, oneof which, Z, hooks over the bar K, and the other of which, Z when thechain is passed around the leg of the animal, hooks over the mainportion thereof. This device alone, however, is liable to be shaken offby the animal before the trap can be dropped. We therefore apply asp ring and This consists of a spring, l*, which either bears directly againstthe hook itself, as shown, or carries a head which does. A slide, lbehind and attached to the spring, and a catch, P, which snaps into'oragainst the ends of the links of the chain, prevent the device recedingfrom its engaged position until sa-id catch is released.

The ring 1 on the end of the hookis simply for convenience in handlingthe chain.

A traveling car made in a triangular form and set on an inclined trackmight be used instead of the trap D, and the cord, pulley,counterbalancing-weight, and brake mechanism would be equally applicablethereto, as would also the pen containing the decoy.

Having thus fully described our said invention, what we claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In apparatus for catching and suspending hogs, a passage-way orchutea portion of the bottom of which consists of a movable hinged door, anda pen, A, for containing a decoy-hog, located at or near the front orfree end of said hinged door, and the bottom of which is substantially acontinuation of said door when in level position, substantially as setforth.

2. The combination, with the trap-like floorsection and itscounterbalancing-weight and .the rope and pulleys therefor, of a brake,J,

andbrake-lever J, by which the same may be held in position or allowedto ascend and descend more or less gradually, substantially as setforth. 25

3. The com bination, with the chain L, having hooks l and Z of thespring l slide 1 and catch 1", substantially as shown and described, andfor the purpose specified.

4. The combination of the chute B, floor G, 0 trap D, suspendingmechanism E, F, G, H, I, and J, bar K, and suspending-chain L, formingan apparatus for catching and suspending hogs, substantially as setforth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set 5 our hands and seals, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 5th day of September, A. D. 1881.

GEO. A. LOWRY. [L. s.] MOSES CRAWFORD. [L. s.] In presence of- A. K.LOWRY, O. BRADFORD.

